5 Ways to Romanticize Your Chore Routine for a More Fun Cleaning Spree

It's safe to say, not many people look forward to completing household chores, especially at the end of a long day or week. Unless you find scrubbing, sweeping, sorting, and folding relaxing, you likely could use some motivation to tackle these tasks. Imagine if your weeknight decluttering session could feel less like a dreaded chore and more like an act of self-care that boosts your mood and makes your space look better.

Romanticizing your chore routine doesn’t mean you need to pretend you’re passionate about cleaning or tidying up. It simply involves finding small ways to infuse mundane tasks with a sense of enjoyment. It also sends a message to yourself that you deserve to find joy in these daily activities.

Try one of these simple ways to elevate your cleaning routine. After using these tips consistently, hopefully, your household chores will become less daunting and more relaxing.

1. Listen to Music or an Audiobook

Music can easily transform your energy and mood, so use it as motivation to accomplish your to-do list. Before you grab the mop or start folding that pile of clean laundry, put on a playlist that matches the atmosphere you want to create. Try jazz to make your kitchen feel like a café or throwback tunes from when you were younger to give you energy to tackle cleaning the bathroom.

If you want to be distracted from chores, consider listening to an audiobook that transports you to another time or place while you wash the windows. Whichever you prefer, have it ready before embarking on your chores.

2. Set the Scene with Scent

Lighting a candle may not help you clean the bathroom faster, but it can certainly make the experience more enjoyable. If you prefer diffusers, consider filling yours with essential oils designed to energize and motivate, such as lemon, peppermint, or eucalyptus. While it has a calming effect, infusing your space with lavender may be a good idea while performing your nightly cleaning routine, as it can signal you to wind down.

3. Dress Up for the Occasion

This tip might sound odd, but there’s something to be said about being more productive after putting on something that is both comfy and cute. This is a personal choice—your perfect chore outfit could be a sundress, matching workout set, or even a pair of clean pajamas.

Some people say wearing shoes makes them feel more productive when doing things around the house. If you’re curious to try it but don’t like wearing shoes inside, consider designating a pair of shoes or hard-soled slippers to wear only inside the house.

4. Use Fun and Functional Tools

It's hard to feel glamorous while using a plastic toilet brush. But, swapping it with a bamboo-handled brush stored in a sleek ceramic holder might entice you to clean the bowl more often. This isn’t to say you should replace all of your cleaning tools now, but it’s something to consider over time.

Remember that small changes, like pouring your DIY cleaning solutions into glass spray bottles or dusting items with an old-fashioned feather duster, can make a big difference in your cleaning experience. Splurging on a set of rainbow-colored microfiber cloths instead of using paper towels not only makes cleaning feel more whimsical, but it’s better for both the environment and your budget.

5. Reward Yourself

While you’re doing something nice for your home, you can also treat yourself. Rewarding yourself for completing a chore could involve sipping an iced latte while reorganizing your closet or cleaning for 20 minutes, then allowing a 5-minute social media scroll. You can also connect specific rewards with certain tasks, like calling your best friend to chat while switching over the sheets or enjoying a piece of chocolate while meal prepping for the week. The goal is to train your brain to anticipate these rituals, not because the chores are inherently fun, but because they are paired with something you love.